Reversing the lens: The role of followership dimensions in shaping transformational leadership behaviour; mediating role of trust in leadership
Leadership & Organization Development Journal
ISSN: 0143-7739
Article publication date: 10 January 2020
Issue publication date: 27 January 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of followership dimensions in the transformational leadership process by reversing the lens from the traditional leader-centric perspective to emerging followership perspective and examine the role of trust as a mediating variable in the proposed relationship.
Design/methodology/approach
Using quantitative method data were collected through a questionnaire from 506 respondents of the telecom sector in Pakistan. The proposed hypotheses were tested using SPSS V.23 and PROCESS V.3.1.
Findings
The results indicate that followership dimensions (active engagement and independent critical thinking) positively affect all the four constructs of transformational leadership (idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation and individualized consideration). Furthermore, trust in leadership partially mediates the direct relationship between followership dimensions and transformational leadership constructs.
Research limitations/implications
This study is conducted in a developing country context which limits its generalizability in other cultural backgrounds. Hence, further investigation could test the role of followership using different samples and methods.
Practical implications
Organizations need to pay more attention to followers’ development to produce better followership outcomes that will ultimately help establish strong relationships with transformational leaders and sustained positive outcomes.
Originality/value
This study empirically tests Shamir’s (2007) “reversing the lens” perspective and extends a distinct theoretical contribution to the social exchange theory that neither followers are passive participants, nor always on the receiving end of the relationship but they actively participate to establish a strong relationship with their leaders.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors declare that the authors have no conflict of interest. Informed consent was obtained from all participants included in the study.
Citation
Khan, S.N., Abdullah, S.M., Busari, A.H., Mubushar, M. and Khan, I.U. (2020), "Reversing the lens: The role of followership dimensions in shaping transformational leadership behaviour; mediating role of trust in leadership", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 41 No. 1, pp. 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1108/LODJ-03-2019-0100
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited